Transfer apparatus for railway cars



April 16, 1940. J. K. DAFNIS 2,197,375

TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 27, 1938 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR USEPH K. DHFNIs ATTORNEYS TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARSFiled July 27, 1958 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 fig. 2.

INVENTOR JUSEF'H KUHl-N/E AT I'ORNEYS April 1940- J. K. DAFNIS 2,197,375

TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed July 27, 1938 3 Sheets$heet 3INV ENTOR JOSEPH KDH FNIS BY M AT TO N EYS Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITEDSTATES TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY ABS Joseph K; Dafnis, Armonk, N.Y.

Application July 27, 1938, Serial No. 221,516

10 Claims.

This invention relates to transfer apparatus for railway cars, and moreparticularly to apparatus adapted for transferring cars from one trackto another without the use of rails or switches, etc., forinterconnecting the tracks.

In various types of construction work, such as in boring tunnels,mining, etc., it is customary to provide one railway track upon whichempty cars may be taken to or from the place where excavating or fillingis being done, another adjacent track being provided over which theloaded cars are transported. In order to transfer the cars from onetrack to the other, it is customary to use track switches and rails forinterconnecting the two tracks, but to protect the switch constructionsagainst breakage or bending out of shape under heavy loads, it isusually necessary to mount the switches on some form of strongsupporting structure of a semi-permanent nature, as for example aconcrete base. Yet as the work advances from point to point, it isnecessary to repeatedly remove and remount the switch structure atfrequent intervals, thus involving considerable delay and heavyexpenses.

In accordance with the present invention, how ever, means requiring noswitch structure or rails for interconnecting the tracks, are providedfortransferring the cars from one track to another, and the apparatus issuch that it may be very quickly moved from place to place along thetracks at very little expense. The apparatus is particularly adaptedalso for use in tunnel and mine work, etc., where the clearanceavailable is limited and where it is important to be able to advance theconstruction equipment quickly and conveniently as the tunnelingproceeds.

Briefly stated, the apparatus of this invention in a preferred form,comprises a bridge-like frame structure which may be supported at eachend by railway trucks for normally engaging the rails, with the car tobe transferred located beneath the arch of the bridge-like frame. Theframe may also be provided at each end with additional trucks having forexample rubber tired wheels, and arranged to carry the frame, or theframe with a car transversely of the track. To this end power means maybe provided on the frame for altering the relative elevations of thelatter trucks with respect to the first-named trucks, whereby the framemay be supported either by the trucks for engaging the track or by thesecond-named pair of trucks. In the latter event, motor power means maybe provided on the frame for operating the last named trucks during thetransfer operation.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe inventioniwill clearly appear from the detailed description given below takenin connection with the accompanying drawings which form a partof this specification 5 and illustrate by Way of example a preferredform of the invention. The invention consists in such novel features,arrangements and combinations of parts as may be shown and described inconnection with the example of the invention herein disclosed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the apparatus embodying theinvention and shown in connection with a railway car to be. transferred;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing one end portion of the apparatus of Fig.v1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along'line 33 of Fig. 1 and alsoindicating in dotted lines the position which will be assumed by-thetrucks and car body after the transfer operation has taken place; and

.Figs. land 5 illustrate two forms of fluid pressure connections whichmaybe used to provide the power for altering the relative elevations ofthe two sets of trucks of the apparatus.

Referring now .to Fig. 1, the above mentioned bridge-like framestructure is indicated at ill, supported at each end .by truckassemblies II and I2, thesetrucks being of suitable well-known types,for example such as adapted for small railway cars; The frame [I] mayinclude horizontal portions at each'end as at I3 and M, rigidlyconstructed of I-beams or steel channel beams. comprise rigid uprightmembers at each side of the frameas at 15 and i6, joined at their upperends by similar buthorizontally extending members as .at ll. Suitablebracing members as at l8, l9 and 20 may be provided for this structure.

A car which is to be transferred is indicated at 2| and may be supportedon railway trucks as at 22 in the usual manner. A

At a .point adjacent each end of the car 2 I, the

frame l0 may be provided with trucks as at 23 above indicated purposes.Such power means The arched or bridge-like portion may 5 may preferablycomprise fluid pressure operated double acting piston means, i. e.,pistons acting within cylinders in such manner that the subframe may beeither forced downwardly to cause the car and frame to be raised fromsupport by the railway track, or alternatively, to cause said sub-frameto be raised so that its trucks 23, 24 do not contact with the ground,but are suspended from the main frame structure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the fluid operated power meansmay comprise a pair of cylinders as at 33, 3| rigidly secured to theframe H! as by means for example of cross piece 32. Within each of thesecylinders, pistons as at 33 may be located and connected to downwardlyextending piston rods as at 34, 35. The lower ends of these piston rodsmay be suitably connected to the sub-frame 28 as by pivotal connectingmeans as indicated at 36, 37. In order to guide the vertically slidablemovements of the sub-frame, if desired a pair of vertically extendingrods as at 38, 39 may be rigidly attached to the sub-frame as by acasting 43. These rods may each be slidably received in guide members asat 4|, 42 mounted upon the main frame.

Fig. 4 illustrates one form of suitable connections for applyingpressure fluid for operating the pistons of cylinders 33, 3| and thecorresponding pistons for cylinders 30', 3|, the latter cylinders beingarranged to operate a sub-frame 28 at the lefthand end of the apparatusas shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, a conduit 45 may be provided forconnection to a suitable source of compressed air, which may be conveyedthrough a pressure reducing valve 46, past a pressure gauge 41 to acontrol valve 48. The valve 48 is so constructed as to have an exhaustoutlet at 49 and alternative pressure outlets 50 and 5|. The outlet 53communicates through suitable piping as at 52 to the lower ends of thepower cylinders and the outlet 5| similarly communicates throughsuitable piping 53 with the upper ends of the cylinders. The valve 48 isthus arranged so that the air pressure may be applied either beneath thepistons of all of the cylinders for raising the sub-frame 28, 28', orelse above the pistons of all the cylinders for forcing the sub-framesdownwardly with a consequent forcing of the main frame and its trucksupwardly as soon as the sub-frame trucks contact with the ground, orwith planking 55 (Fig. 3) covering the ground. The valve 48 and itsconnections are also such that while pressure is being applied to oneface of all the pistons, air may be released from the opposite end ofeach of the cylinders through exhaust pipe 49.

In Fig. 5 an alternative arrangement of pressure connections isillustrated wherein a liquid reservoir 56 may be provided in conjunctionwith a pump 57 operated by a motor 58, so as to provide fluid pressurein a conduit 59. The conduit 59 may be connected to a by-pass 60 havingan adjustable release valve 6|, so that a controlled amount of liquidmay be allowed to return to the reservoir. The conduit 59 may beconnected to a valve 48' which in turn may be connected to conduits 50',5|, 52' and 53', corresponding in function to similar conduits in Fig. 4except being adapted to carry liquid instead of air pressure. In thiscase the exhaust outlet 49 may be connected to convey the exhaustedliquid back to the reservoir 56, this reservoir also being provided ifdesired with a vent 62.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, sub-frame 28 may be provided with ashelf-like extension for supporting a motor 66. This motor may beconnected to a suitable reducing gear box 6'! also mounted on theextension 65. The reducing gear may be connected by sprocket and chainarrangements as shown at 68, 69, to the axles of Wheels 25, 26respectively. It will be understood that the sub-frame 28 at the otherend of the apparatus may be similarly equipped with a motor andconnections for operating the truck 24.

The cars as at 2| which are to be transferred may have permanentlysecured thereto at each end, means such as angle irons 10, respectivelyadapted to be engaged by supporting brackets as at I2, 13, 14, 15mounted respectively on each of the four upright posts which support thebridge-like portion of the main frame. Each of these supporting bracketsmay be mounted by pivotal means as at 16 (Fig. 1), permitting thebracket to be swung in a horizontal direction into and out of contact orsupporting relationship with the adjacent angle iron members 75 or H onthe car.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described with particularreference to Fig. 3. Let us assume that a car either empty or loaded, ispositioned on track l6 and that it is desired to transfer such car totrack 11. As shown, the ground at the point where the transfer is totake place, may be covered with more or less temporary planking as at 55having its upper surface substantially flush with the tops of the rails.The transfer apparatus may now be brought from some other location bypushing the same along track T! to a point opposite the car on track 16,which is to be transferred. Then the air or liquid pressure may be soapplied to the cylinders 30, 3|, etc., as to force the trucks 23, 24down into contact with the planking and concurrently elevating the mainframe and trucks H and I2 sufiiciently so that the latter trucks are outof contact with the track. Then the motors 66, 66' may be started in adirection to so propel the trucks 23, 24, that the apparatus will movetransversely of the tracks and to a position with the main framebridging over the car on track 16. During this time the brackets 12-15are in positions so that they will not engage the car. When theapparatus is thus in proper position over the car which is to betransferred, the fluid pressure may be so applied to the cylinders as toelevate the trucks 23, 24 and permit the trucks and I2 to engage thetrack. Thereupon the supporting brackets '|2-'|5 may be turned to thepositions as shown in Fig. 1 for engaging the car. Then the pressure maybe so applied to the cylinders as to thrust the trucks 23, 24 downwardlyinto engagement with the planking and then so that they will support thewhole apparatus and car and raise the same sufficiently to bring thetrucks II and I2 out of contact with the track I6. Then by operating themotors 63, 66, in the proper direction, the whole apparatus and car maybe transferred to the positions indicated by the dotted lines over track11, whereupon the trucks 23, 24 may be elevated in the same manner asabove described, thus allowing the car and main frame trucks to belowered on to track 17, after which the transfer apparatus may bereturned to track 16 to permit the transferred car to be drawn away ontrack H.

It will be apparent that an arrangement is thus provided which avoidsthe necessity of using track. Also with this arrangement, it is possibleto quickly transfer wear from one of the tracks tothe other at anydesired point along the tracks,

so-long as the space betweenthe rails is approximately filled as byrough planking 55, or equivalent means, which may be quickly laid forthe purpose, or which in many cases will'already be available betweenthe tracks. fer apparatus may be operated at anypoint along the tracks,various shifting operations and rear- I rangements of the cars may beaccomplished which would be substantially impossible or in.- volve longdelays if switches atfixed points were used.

The bridge-like construction of the transfer frame permits each end ofthe frame to be carried on trucks at the respective-ends of the car, andpermits of a rigid form of frame without necessitating the'use of anyframe parts extending to the sides or beneath the car. tunnels, mines,etc., for various reasons there must generally be substantialclearance-above the tops of the cars, and often but little'or noclearance at the sides and bottom thereof,'it will be apparent that thebridge-like construction provides an ideal form of rigid frame whileavoiding the necessity of providing further clearance beyond what isordinarily available in tunneling operations.

As above described, the power equipment may preferably (although notnecessarily) be substantially duplicated at each end of the main frame.This will permit the raising and lowering of each end of the car to becontrolled independently, without danger of jamming the equipment, aswell as permitting the transverse movement of each .end of the apparatusto be independently controlled, so that if the traction obtained by thetrucks 23, 24 is not uniform, the operator may take such fact intoaccount, and control the motors accordingly.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect toparticular preferred examples, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art after understanding the invention, that various changes andfurther modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a pair of trucks for respectively engaging the trackat each end of a car, a frame adapted to extend over the top of the carfor interconnecting said trucks and including means providing a liftingengagement with the car, a second pair of trucks respectively attachedto said frame at each end of the car, said last named trucks havingwheels adapted to carry the frame and the car engaged thereby indirections transverse to the track, and means on said frame for alteringthe relative elevations of the latter trucks with respect to the firstnamed trucks whereby the frame may be supported either by the trucks forengaging the track or by the second named pair of trucks.

2. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a frame, means on said frame for providing a lift-Since the trans- Since in ing-engagement with a car, trucksfor carryingsaid frame along the track, trucks for carrying said frame in directionstransverse to the track, and means on said framefor altering therelative elevations of the latter trucks with respect-to the firstnamedtrucks whereby either the frame may be carried along the track bythe first menthereby may be elevated and carried transverse- 1y of-thetrack. I. I

3. Apparatus for transferring cars'in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a frame, means on said frame for engaging a car tolift tioned trucks or the frame with the vcar engaged" the same, trucksfor carrying said frame along the track, trucks for carrying said'framein directions transverse to the track, and power means on saidframe for altering the relative elevations of the latter trucks withrespect to the first named trucks whereby-either the frame'may be.carried along the track by the first mentioned trucks with the secondnamed trucks elevated, or the frame with the car engaged thereby may beelevated from support by the track and carried transversely of the trackby the second named trucks. I

4. Apparatus for transferring carsin directions transverse to a railwaytrack; comprising a pair of truclzs for respectively engaging the trackat each end of a car, a bridge-like framev for intercon-v necting saidtrucks, spacebeing provided beneath said frame to receive the, car whenthe'frame is moved transversely; over. a car, means onsaid frame forlifting and supporting the car when the frame is elevated, a secondsetof trucks for carrying said frame in directionstransverse to thetrack, and means on said frame for altering the'relative elevations ofthe, latter trucks with respect to the first named trucks whereby eitherthe frame may be carried along the track by the first mentioned trucksor the frame with the car. lifted thereby may be carried transversely ofthe track.- r i 5. Apparatus for transferring cars in directionstransverse to a railway track, comprising a frame, means on said framefor lifting the car when the frame is elevated, trucks for carrying saidframe along the track, additionaltrucks at each end of said frame'forcarrying said frame iindirections transverse to the track, and powermeans mounted at each end of said frame for altering the elevation ofsaid additional trucks with respect to the first named trucks, wherebyeither the frame may be carried along the track by the first mentionedtrucks with the second mentioned trucks elevated, or the frame with thecar lifted thereby is elevated from support by the track and carriedtransversely of the track by said additional trucks. I

6. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a frame, means onsaid frame for lifting the car whenthe frame is elevated, trucks for carrying said frame along the track,additional trucks atv each end of said frame for carrying said frame indirections transverse to the track, andv fluid pressure-operateddouble-acting piston means mounted at each end of said frame foraltering the elevation of said additional trucks with respect to thefirst named trucks, whereby either the frame may be carried along thetrack by the first mentioned trucks with the second mentioned truckselevated, or, the frame with the car lifted thereby is elevated, fromsupport by the track and carried transversely of the track by saidadditional trucks.

when the frame is elevated, trucks for carrying said frame along thetrack, additional trucks at each end of said frame for carrying saidframe in directions transverse to the track, power means.

mounted at each end of said frame for altering the elevation of saidadditional trucks with respect to the first named trucks, whereby eitherthe frame may be carried along the track by the first mentioned truckswith the second mentioned trucks elevated, or the frame with the carlifted thereby is elevated from support by the track and carriedtransversely of the track by said additional trucks, motor means carriedby said frame, and driving connecting means between said motor means andthe wheels of said additional trucks.

8. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a frame, means on said frame for lifting the car whenthe frame is elevated, trucks for carrying said frame along the track,additional trucks at each end of said frame for carrying said frame indirections transverse to the track, power means mounted at each end ofsaid frame for altering the elevation of said additional trucks withrespect to, the first named trucks, whereby either the frame may becarried along the track by the first mentioned trucks with the secondmentioned trucks elevated, or the frame with the car lifted thereby iselevated from support by the track and carried transversely of the trackby said additional trucks, and motor means carried by said frame andconnected with the wheels of said additional trucks notwithstanding. thechanges in elevation of the latter trucks.

9. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to a railwaytrack, comprising a frame, means on said frame for lifting the car whenthe, frame is elevated, trucks for carrying said frame along the track,a sub-frame mounted on said frame and verticaly slidable to variouselevations in respect to said frame, additional truck means on saidsub-frame for carrying the frame and sub-frame in directions transverseto the track, power means on said frame for altering the elevation ofsaid sub-frame and said additional truck means thereon, with respect tothe first named trucks, whereby either the frame may be carried alongthe track by the first mentioned trucks with the second mentioned truckselevated, or the frame with the car lifted thereby is elevated fromsupport by the track and carried transversely of the track by saidadditional trucks, and power means on said subframe for driving saidadditional truck means.

10. Apparatus for transferring cars in directions transverse to arailway track, comprising a frame, means on said framefor lifting thecar when the frame is elevated, trucks for carryat each end of saidframe for carrying said frame in directions transverse to the track,power means mounted at each end of said frame for altering the elevationof said additional trucks with respect to the first named trucks,whereby the track and carried transversely of the track by saidadditional trucks, and motors for driving each of said additional trucksindependently.

JOSEPH K. DAFNIS.

ing said frame along the track, additional trucks

